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Single-source parts programs: Too good to be true?http://www.plantservices.com/blogs/todays-optimized-facility/single-source-parts-programs-too-good-to-be-true/
<p>MHE can get backed up for a variety of reasons, and when it does, the operations manager soon will ask when you expect the equipment to be back to production.</p>Thu, 30 Jul 2015 14:33:00 -0400http://www.plantservices.com/blogs/todays-optimized-facility/single-source-parts-programs-too-good-to-be-true/Compressed Air Optimization: Don’t Just Do the Easy Stuffhttp://www.plantservices.com/blogs/compressed-air-efficiency/compressed-air-optimization-dont-just-do-the-easy-stuff/
<p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you want to save big, take the "systems approach."</span></span></p>Mon, 06 Jul 2015 21:41:00 -0400http://www.plantservices.com/blogs/compressed-air-efficiency/compressed-air-optimization-dont-just-do-the-easy-stuff/BattleBots: Reaching future engineers one violent battle at a timehttp://www.plantservices.com/blogs/plant-nexus/battlebots-reaching-future-engineers-one-violent-battle-at-a-time/
<p>If you are a fan of STEM education and getting kids involved in engineering, then this show is for you.</p>Mon, 29 Jun 2015 20:18:00 -0400http://www.plantservices.com/blogs/plant-nexus/battlebots-reaching-future-engineers-one-violent-battle-at-a-time/Maximizing ROI with effective asset managementhttp://www.plantservices.com/blogs/plant-technology/maximizing-roi-with-effective-asset-management/
<p>To secure the best return on investment and capitalize on potential for increased revenue, organizations must rely on advanced enterprise asset management (EAM) systems to monitor and manage operations and energy consumption.</p>Fri, 19 Jun 2015 16:21:00 -0400http://www.plantservices.com/blogs/plant-technology/maximizing-roi-with-effective-asset-management/Planning and scheduling – The cornerstone of the reliability excellence strategyhttp://www.plantservices.com/blogs/reality-excellence/planning-and-scheduling/
<p>If a fully functional computerized maintenance management system (CMMS), robust operator driven reliability, and craft skill proficiency are the building blocks of your reliability strategy’s foundation, then best practice planning and scheduling is the cornerstone on which many of the remaining program elements rest.</p>Fri, 29 May 2015 14:35:00 -0400http://www.plantservices.com/blogs/reality-excellence/planning-and-scheduling/Pick a winner: Focus your people by focusing on the right equipmenthttp://www.plantservices.com/blogs/todays-optimized-facility/pick-a-winner-focus-your-people-by-focusing-on-the-right-equipment/
<p>If you ask anyone outside the material handling industry to describe a lift truck, he or she will probably describe a classic counterbalanced lift truck: four wheels, a massive body behind a mast and forks, and a seat like a lawn tractor. These general-purpose lift trucks can perform a wide range of tasks, which accounts for their popularity with operations managers. Often, operations managers are focused on the need to move items but are not concerned with the details.</p>Thu, 21 May 2015 15:49:00 -0400http://www.plantservices.com/blogs/todays-optimized-facility/pick-a-winner-focus-your-people-by-focusing-on-the-right-equipment/The Bigger the Badderhttp://www.plantservices.com/blogs/compressed-air-efficiency/the-bigger-the-badder/
<p>If you have a big compressed air system you are likely wasting more than most.</p>Wed, 20 May 2015 13:58:00 -0400http://www.plantservices.com/blogs/compressed-air-efficiency/the-bigger-the-badder/The Internet of Things’ impact on the future of food productionhttp://www.plantservices.com/blogs/plant-technology/the-internet-of-things-impact-on-the-future-of-food-production/
<p>Although a frequent topic in many of today’s technology-focused discussions, the Internet of Things (IoT) is still a complex, abstract concept for many in the process manufacturing industry.</p>Wed, 15 Apr 2015 12:15:00 -0400http://www.plantservices.com/blogs/plant-technology/the-internet-of-things-impact-on-the-future-of-food-production/On-the-job STEM training for studentshttp://www.plantservices.com/blogs/stem-101/on-the-job-stem-training-for-students/
<p>Why dropping out could be the best thing.</p>Wed, 15 Apr 2015 12:00:00 -0400http://www.plantservices.com/blogs/stem-101/on-the-job-stem-training-for-students/3D printing inspired by Hollywoodhttp://www.plantservices.com/blogs/plant-nexus/3d-printing-inspired-by-hollywood/
<p>How the T-1000 from Terminator 2 is revolutionizing additive manufacturing.</p>Thu, 09 Apr 2015 13:30:00 -0400http://www.plantservices.com/blogs/plant-nexus/3d-printing-inspired-by-hollywood/Come on get happy. Become an engineerhttp://www.plantservices.com/blogs/stem-101/come-on-get-happy-become-an-engineer/
<p>Jobs site CareerBliss has released a list of what it claims are the 10 happiest careers in the U.S.</p>Thu, 09 Apr 2015 12:32:00 -0400http://www.plantservices.com/blogs/stem-101/come-on-get-happy-become-an-engineer/Hydroelectric power with a flushhttp://www.plantservices.com/blogs/plant-nexus/hydroelectric-power-with-a-flush/
<p>Lucid Energy, a company in Portland, Oregon, is taking clean technology to a new level.</p>Thu, 02 Apr 2015 11:07:00 -0400http://www.plantservices.com/blogs/plant-nexus/hydroelectric-power-with-a-flush/Are engineering students getting the experience they need to be successful?http://www.plantservices.com/blogs/stem-101/are-engineering-students-getting-the-experience-they-need-to-be-successful/
<p>Bridging "the gap" between academia and real-life engineering.</p>Wed, 01 Apr 2015 12:44:00 -0400http://www.plantservices.com/blogs/stem-101/are-engineering-students-getting-the-experience-they-need-to-be-successful/When it comes to training, there is no free lunchhttp://www.plantservices.com/blogs/reality-excellence/when-tt-comes-to-training-there-is-no-free-lunch/
<p>If someone were to come in and audit your training and development program, would they find it consisted solely of “Lunch, and Learns” and tribal knowledge passed down from your most senior craftsmen and operators to your new hires?</p>Tue, 31 Mar 2015 09:26:00 -0400http://www.plantservices.com/blogs/reality-excellence/when-tt-comes-to-training-there-is-no-free-lunch/Compressed Air Efficiency: Measure, Then Manage It: Part 2http://www.plantservices.com/blogs/compressed-air-efficiency/compressed-air-efficiency-measure-it/
<p>Here's some effective strategies to use to optimize your system</p>Thu, 26 Mar 2015 22:24:00 -0400http://www.plantservices.com/blogs/compressed-air-efficiency/compressed-air-efficiency-measure-it/Getting students excited about roboticshttp://www.plantservices.com/blogs/stem-101/getting-students-excited-about-robotics/
<p>Yaskawa Motoman has released a new STEM Robotics Platform for education and workforce development.</p>Thu, 26 Mar 2015 22:00:00 -0400http://www.plantservices.com/blogs/stem-101/getting-students-excited-about-robotics/Bishop-Wisecarver Group puts STEM first by sponsoring FIRST Robotics Competitionhttp://www.plantservices.com/blogs/stem-101/bishop-wisecarver-sponsoring-first-robotics-competition/
<p>The 2015 FIRST Robotics Competition includes more than 73,000 high school students and 17,000 mentors from 19 countries.</p>Tue, 24 Mar 2015 15:45:00 -0400http://www.plantservices.com/blogs/stem-101/bishop-wisecarver-sponsoring-first-robotics-competition/Happy batteries live longer: Four ways to improve battery lifehttp://www.plantservices.com/blogs/todays-optimized-facility/happy-batteries-live-longer-four-ways-to-improve-battery-life/
<p>An industrial lead-acid battery for a lift truck can cost about $10,000. Although this price may seem minimal compared with other material handling expenses, the cost to power an entire lift truck fleet can quickly add up for facility managers. This is more than enough reason to ensure managers are getting the most from their lift truck batteries.</p>Fri, 20 Mar 2015 10:22:00 -0400http://www.plantservices.com/blogs/todays-optimized-facility/happy-batteries-live-longer-four-ways-to-improve-battery-life/Robotics 101: The history of robotshttp://www.plantservices.com/blogs/plant-nexus/robotics-101-the-history-of-robots/
<p>For decades, we have heard about the robotics revolution, but what would this revolution really look like? Would it be Rosie from "The Jetsons" catering to our every need or Skynet using terminators to try to exterminate all humans? These pop-culture interpretations of robots have shaped our perception of robotics technology, yet when we look around, we don't really see evidence of either future. Will the robotics revolution ever happen, or is it already happening without us knowing?</p>
<p>In this short video from SciShow, the history of robotics is explored from the first robot in the General Motors production line to the integration of robotics into everyday life.</p>
<p><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uoC2ZGRI8a8" width="500" height="281" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>Wed, 18 Mar 2015 16:08:00 -0400http://www.plantservices.com/blogs/plant-nexus/robotics-101-the-history-of-robots/The Key to Energy Efficiency is Viewing a Total Facility as a “Single System”http://www.plantservices.com/blogs/bill-holmes-on-energy/the-key-to-energy-efficiency-is-viewing-a-total-facility-as-a-single-system/
<p><span><strong> </strong>If treating a total facility as a “Single System” is the key to energy efficiency, <strong><em>why do most in the Energy Efficiency Profession focus on the individual energy users instead of the Total Facility?</em></strong></span></p>Wed, 18 Mar 2015 11:25:00 -0400http://www.plantservices.com/blogs/bill-holmes-on-energy/the-key-to-energy-efficiency-is-viewing-a-total-facility-as-a-single-system/